Spotlight on the NJ 3rd Congressional District

Republican Winner, Jon Runyan
The Third District of New Jersey covers most of Burlington and Ocean Counties as well as Cherry Hill in Camden County. The eastern edge includes Toms River and Long Beach Island, popular beach towns. The important military installations of Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base, and Lakehurst Naval Station lie within the district’s perimeter. Also located here is the nation's first Federal Reserve, the Pine Barrens, which protects numerous species of animal and plant life and produces one of the largest cranberry crops in America. Republican H. James Saxton solidly held this seat for two dozen years before retiring in 2008. Democrat John Adler, (seventeen year NJ State Senator) won that year by less than 5 points even though he outspent his Republican opponent by a ratio of more than 2 to 1. Adler is banking a sizable war chest for his re-election bid. He fended off a primary challenge from Barry Bendar, former Democratic municipal chairman for Lacy Township who assailed Adler from the left, specifically for his vote against health care. In Presidential voting history, the district swung from Democrat (Al Gore by 9) in 2000 to Republican (George W. Bush by 3) in 2004 back to Democrat (Barack Obama by 5) in 2008. Republican primary candidate Jon Runyan, former NFL offensive lineman, won the June 8 primary, taking 60% of the vote in a three way race. Runyan had the backing of the Republican committees in the district’s two largest counties. His experience in hard fought contests on the gridiron served him well in this closely watched race. Runyan won 50% to 47%.
Jon Runyan
  • Outstanding high school athlete in Flint, Michigan where he was born and raised
  • Studied Kinesiology at the Univ. of Michigan on a football scholarship, becoming the first person in his family to attend college
  • Studied Entrepreneurial Management at Univ. of PA’s Wharton School of Business
  • NFL player 1996-2010, most notably for the Philadelphia Eagles
  • On-air analyst and personality for Comcast SportsNet, WIP Sports Talk Radio, and WXTU Country Radio; Player Reporters for Fox 29 in Phila.
  • Community involvement: NJ Special Olympics, USO, Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, American Red Cross, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Board Member for the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of the Delaware Valley and five-time host of his own “Score for the Cure” Golf Tournament benefitting prostate cancer research

ISSUES

  • Stand for true fiscal conservative values of lower taxes and less spending; get serious about shrinking the size and cost of government and returning power to the States;  incremental approach to health care reform, allowing small businesses to pool together to buy health insurance at a lower cost, permitting people to buy health insurance across state lines and providing individuals greater freedom to choose a healthcare plan that best suits them and their family, instead of forcing them to accept a one-size-fits-all approach that just drives up costs; protect the NJ shoreline to preserve tourism; ensure that our active military fighting to defend freedom around the world have all the tools necessary to defeat our enemies and return home safely to their family and friends; keep the commitments that have been made to our seniors, while keeping Social Security and Medicare solvent for future generations; strongly support continued foreign aid to Israel to ensure they have the tools necessary to stand strong in the face of hostilities by their enemies 
"Some people question whether I have the experience to run for Congress. I have a simple answer for them: How is the country doing with the so-called "experienced" politicians running things? Not too well. I will bring fresh ideas and real-life experience to Congress; and represent the people who elect me, not powerful special interests who want to maintain the status quo."
2nd Runyan TV Spot
The Spotlight On reports are overviews of actual Republican primary winners or top Republican primary contenders. Spotlights should not be interpreted as recommendations to support specific candidates. Before supporting any candidate, do thorough research to confirm that the candidate shares your views on issues you deem most important.